1. In 2008 the properties subject to foreclosure are those on which the 2005 full year tax is delinquent. In some cases, 2004 or earlier taxes may also be delinquent. The grace period is 3 years and the full year 2005 taxes will be 3 years past due on May 1, 2008. NOTE: It does not matter if the 2006, 2007, or 2008 taxes are paid. It is not when there are 3 years of taxes past due but when 1 year's tax is 3 years past due that foreclosure begins.

2. We do not maintain a mailing list to notify people of each year's tax foreclosure. The great majority of people who ask for information never attend the auction or do any research once they find out what is required and what is involved. Further, people move without telling us and it is a waste of county resources when the list is returned. On or about June 10, 2008, a list of properties in foreclosure can be found by clicking the link at the bottom of this page.  The Summons and Notice, which includes a list of the properties, will be published in the Seattle Times classified (legal) section sometime in late October after all our certified mail notifications are completed. A paper copy computer list may be purchased in the office on or about June 10, 2008 for $5.00; $8.00 if mailed.

3. We do not sell "tax certificates or "deeds" of any nature. In some states you may purchase a certificate of some kind showing that you paid the delinquent taxes but we don't have any information on this procedure because there is no provision for it in Washington State law.

4. If you obtain a list from us for research purposes, remember that you will need to come into our office or visit our web site periodically to delete those accounts that were paid since your list was printed. The web site list will normally be updated daily via the technology staff after normal working hours. Due to the volume of work this information will not be provided by telephone. Parcels may be redeemed from foreclosure at any time up to the day before the auction, thus we do not know what will be in the sale until the morning of the auction.

5. There is no redemption period after the sale except in cases where the owner on the day of the sale was either a minor child or a person adjudicated to be legally incompetent. In those cases, there is a 3-year redemption period.

6. As real estate taxes are in the first lien position, the tax foreclosure extinguishes all other encumbrances including but not limited to Deeds of Trust, mortgages, contracts, liens, judgments and any similar items. However, any Local Improvement Assessments (LID's) remain and become the obligation of the buyer. Also, Internal Revenue liens remain.

7. Parcels are sold in the same order as they appeared in the newspaper and in the lists mentioned in #2. Parcels are in numerical order by tax account number which, in turn, derives from the alphabetical order of the plat name or from the Section, Township & Range if the property is unplatted.

8. ALL SALES ARE FINAL. PROPERTIES ARE SOLD ON A "WHERE IS" AND "AS IS" BASIS.

All research must be done by the interested party. Normally this would include checking maps in the Assessor's Office and doing research through the public computer terminals in the Assessor's Office. An on-site inspection should also be made. Just because a property looks desirable on the map does not mean it is in actuality. The map does not show the topography such as ravines, hill, slopes, etc., nor does the map show what is on the property (dense growth, swamp, boulders, etc.). Some properties may be private roads covered by easements for ingress and egress. Easements are not extinguished by the foreclosure sale but remain with the land. You may not block the easement to try to extort money out of the users.

Similarly, when you see that a property lies near or under a transmission line easement, there will likely be restrictions against building anything on the land. Transmission line easements do appear on the Assessor's maps but private easements do not.

Some properties may be subject to use restrictions and covenants set up in the original plat. Some of these may be labeled Open Space, Open Area, Greenbelt or similar. Their use is often strictly limited. The King County Department of Developmental & Environmental Services has ruled it will not issue building permits on any such lots. You should also be aware of properties where the legal description contains the term "Drainage Easement" or Retention Pond" or similar terms.

It is up to you to know exactly what you are bidding on. We can not stress this too strongly. Every year people who have done little or no research or who do not know how to read a legal description buy properties that, to them, are totally useless. Knowledgeable parties who have done the proper research will avoid these properties. We do not overturn a sale and refund the purchase price because a bidder didn't know what they were bidding on, nor because they didn't understand the legal description.

9. Do not count on buying a house at the foreclosure auction. Normally, owners of improved properties subject to tax foreclosure will raise the money to redeem the property before the sale, often at the last minute. Most houses that are foreclosed on have delinquent loans held by banks, mortgage companies or other lenders. There is no department within the county that has information on these lending agency foreclosures.

10. Properties not sold to the public at the auction are sold to King County. These parcels are thereafter called "Tax Title Properties". Most of these parcels are of little value which is why they didn't sell at the auction in the first place. Many of these properties are "dangling strips" or "isolated triangles". The former are usually narrow strips anywhere from a few inches to a few feet wide that were left over because of an error in a legal description, a survey or platting error, or a mismeasurement by the Assessor's office. The triangles generally are created when a street or highway cuts through a lot leaving a small isolated triangle cut off from the rest of the lot or block.

11. The County may try to sell the Tax Title Properties at some future date after the foreclosure sale. Tax Title sale information may be obtained by calling the Property Services Division at 206-296-7470.

12. THE TAX FORECLOSURE AUCTION

No King County Employee or officer, or person who is an immediate family member of and residing with a King County employee, may bid at the sale, nor may such person bid as an agent or allow any agent to bid on their behalf. RCW 84.64.080

We do not have a bidder registration requirement.

The minimum bid includes the amount due to the County for the tax, interest, penalties and foreclosure costs. Bidding must be done in person, not by phone or mail. This is an open oral auction, not a sealed bid auction.

Payment by the successful bidder must be made immediately upon winning the bid. Payment must be made by cashier's check, money order, certified check, or cash. NO OTHER FORM OF PAYMENT WILL BE ACCEPTED INCLUDING PERSONAL CHECKS, BUSINESS, CHECKS, CREDIT CARD CHECKS, TRAVELER'S CHECKS, LETTERS OF CREDIT OR SIMILAR. There are no exceptions to this policy. Checks are made payable to the King County Treasury.

Most people bring a cashier's check made payable to the King County Treasury for the maximum amount they are willing to spend, whether they intend to buy just one parcel or bid on several. If the check is for too much, we refund the difference, but if it's not enough you won't have time to run to the bank for more.
Foreclosure section phone number - 206-296-4184.

THE FOLLOWING IS THE 2007 FORECLOSURE AUCTION "TERMS OF SALE". THE "TERMS OF SALE" ARE PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND MAY BE DIFFERENT FOR THE 2008 SALE.

KING COUNTY TREASURY OPERATIONS - KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON
TAX FORECLOSURE SALE, DECEMBER 14, 2007

TERMS OF SALE

1. The opening bid as announced by the auctioneer includes all unpaid general real property taxes, all unpaid deferred real property taxes, all personal property and gambling taxes which have been certified to real property, all delinquent compensating use taxes, all demolition assessments which have been certified to King County Treasury Operations, all special taxes (but NOT Special Assessments), interest to and including December 14, 2007, penalties, and foreclosure costs, surface water management charges, King Conservation District Fees, Fire Protection Fees, noxious weed fees, and principal & interest due King County on unpaid Tax Title Contracts, if any.

2. Properties are sold subject to special assessments. We will announce, prior to the bidding on a parcel, if a parcel is encumbered by liens for delinquent special assessments if that fact was reported to us by Pacific Northwest Title Company of Washington, Inc. Whether or not such an announcement is made, however, parcels are sold subject to any special assessments that may have been placed on such property.

3. We will also announce prior to bidding on certain parcels that they were encumbered by Internal Revenue Service liens if Pacific Northwest Title Company of Washington, Inc. reported that fact to us. Whether or not we make such an announcement, however, parcels sold that were encumbered by an Internal Revenue Service lien are subject to redemption within 120 days of this sale.

4. Bids must be made in increments of no less than $10, in even dollar amounts.

5. The sale will be made by auction to the highest and best bidder for cash. This is a cash sale for the full amount of the final bid plus other fees described in paragraph 8 below. Only cash, certified or cashier’s checks will be accepted and the bidder must pay in full at the time of the successful bid. Personal checks will not be accepted, nor any other form of payment not specified above.

6. If a winning bid is accepted and the bidder defaults by not rendering payment before the completion of the next sale, the parcel shall be immediately rebid. Rebidding shall start at the original minimum bid. A bidder defaulting more than once shall be excluded from further bidding on any parcel at this auction.

7. The sale of each parcel shall be considered final and closed upon acceptance of the winning bid. Unsold properties will be offered a second time at the end of the sale and if there are again no bids, the property will be sold to King County.

8. The successful bidder will be responsible for payment to King County of $57.00 for the deed and recording fee. The payment for the deed and recording fees must be made at the same time as payment of the amount of the final bid price. A receipt for payment of the bid price and fees for the deed and recording is given at the time of payment.

9. The parcels are offered on a “where is” and “as is” basis, and King County makes no representation of warranty, expressed or implied, nor any guaranty of warranty, expressed or implied, as to the condition of title to any property nor the physical condition of any property or its fitness for any use or purpose. Bidders are further advised that certain properties may be subject to easements or use restrictions set forth in the Covenants, Rights, and Restrictions of certain plats, as well as in zoning and other land use controls. Certain parcels may be designated as “Open Space”, “open area”, “permanent open area”, “common area”, “drainage” or similar designations, and are subject to open space restrictions which include, but are not limited to, prohibitions on placing improvements on such parcels. Bidders are further advised that King County does not warrant or make any express or implied representations regarding the physical condition of any parcel including, but not limited to, whether the parcel is contaminated with hazardous waste or contamination from any source, or whether the parcel is subject to restrictions based on the King County sensitive areas ordinance or other applicable land use laws or regulations. For any property purchased, it shall be the buyer’s sole responsibility to make a determination whether any such contamination exists or whether the property is restricted in any manner.

10. If you are a successful bidder, a Tax Deed will be issued for the parcel in about 45 days and forwarded to the King County Records, Elections and Licensing Services Division for recording. If you are a successful bidder, your name and address as given to us for issuance of the Tax Deed will be available by law as a public record. Because of the volume of paperwork, which needs to be accomplished following the auction, we will not be able to make records from the foreclosure sale available for inspection by the public until January 14, 2008.

11. No King County employee or officer, or person who is an immediate family member of and residing with a King County employee, may bid at the sale, nor may such person bid as an agent or allow any agent to bid on their behalf.

12. No one claiming any right, title, interest or estate in the property may redeem at this time or hereafter; EXCEPT, the real property of any minor or person adjudicated as legally incompetent may be redeemed at any time within three years after the date of the Tax Deed.

13. It is possible that a parcel may be registered under the Torrens System. King County Treasury Operations cannot advise you if it is. If this is the case, the purchaser will be required to register certain portions of the foreclosure proceedings themselves and at additional expense.

14. 2008 first half taxes are due on April 30, 2008. You will be mailed a current 2008 tax statement on February 14, 2008 for any parcels you purchase at the name and address provided for the Tax Deed in paragraph 8 above. If you have not received a 2008 statement by March 7, 2008, contact our office at 206-296-0923.

15. If necessary, we will take a lunch break at 12:00 noon and resume the sale at 12:45 p.m.